Coin-controlled weighing-scale.



H'. W1 BARSON.

COIN CONTROLLED WBIGHING SCALE. APPLICATION-FILED -APR. 22,1913.

' 1,122,244. f Patentenec.29,1914.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

-H. W. BARSON. eIN GONTROLLED WBIGHING'SGALB.

APPLICATION FILED APR.Z2,19 13.

Patented 1m29, 1914.

s sanne-salma.

UNTED 'STATES PATENT canton. l

. HARRY W. BARSAON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

coIN-oNTao'LLnn WEIGHINGLsc-ALE.

To all whom t may concern.' v

Be it known that I, HARRY W. BARsoN, a citizen -of the United States, and a resident `of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use- Improvementsv in Coin- Controlled lVeighing-Scales, of which the following 1s l a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to controlled weigh- 'ing scales and Iof that type in which the weight placed upon the platform of the scales is determined by a counter-balancing weighing beam. y v

The invention Vseeks to provide simple and effective-means whereby scales of this kind Y can be coin controlled, and consists in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred form in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. f

Figure 1 is an ,elevation of the upper portion of the Iscales with they standard shown in section. Fig. 2 isa lower vertical portion of the scales. Fig. 3 is a detailed section of the coin-controlled parts taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.` Fig. 4 is asimilar view showing theparts in shifted position. 'Fig 5 is a partial view in front elevation o'f the coin controlled parts. Fig. 6 is a detailed section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the upper portion of a `modified form. Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the parts in shifted position.` Fig.

9 is a detail section on the line 9-9 of' Fig. '7. y

InV its preferred form, the improvement is of such a nature that it can bereadily applied to platform scales of the usual type. As shown, the frame of the scales comprises a base 1.a hollow standard 2 extending up wardly from one end of the base and a head 3 mounted on the upper end of the standard. A. platform -1 is arranged above an opening in the base 1 and is mounted in suitable manner upon weighing levers 5 and 6 of ordinary construction, the rear end of the weighing lever 5 being arranged below the lower end of the hollow standard 2. The' head 3 is provided with branching arms 7 connected at their upper ends by a cross-bar V8. The balancing beam 9 is pivotally mounted upon a standard 10 rising from the cross bar 8. In the form shown,the balancing beam is double and each portion thereof 1s provided with a sliding counterpoise Speccation of `Letters Patent. Patented Dc. 29y 1914:.- Application led April 22, 1913. Serial No. 762,812. i

l Adjacent'its pivoted end the beam 9V is condetermine a Weight of any considerable i,

amount placed upon the platform. For this purpose a normally inoperative, yielding connection is interposed at any suitable .point between the platform and the balancing beam and coin operated or controlled means are provided for effecting or control-l ling'a positive connection between the platform and the beam'.

In the construction shown in Figs. -1 6,

the yielding inoperative connection is interposed between the weighing -lever 5 within the base of the frame andthe lever 13 which is'connected to the balancing beam, but it should beunders'tood that the yielding connection can be otherwise arranged Without departure from the scope of the invention.

In the construction shown in Figs. l to 6, the coin controlled parts are arranged within the upper portion of the hollow standard i2, and comprise two relatively slidable mem-v bers 15 and 16 connected respectively by links 17 and 17 to the levers 5 and 13. The member 16 comprises a narrow rectangular frame, and the member 15 comprises a rod which is arranged to slide longitudinally through an opening or guide-way in the lower end bar of the frame member 16.

The upper end of the rod 15 is heldin position between two cross-pieces 18 and 19 that extend between the side bars of the frame member 16. The upper ends of a pairjof light coiled springs 20 are connected to laiterally projecting lugs 21 on the upper end of ,the frame members 16, and the lower ends of the ,springs are connected to laterally projecting lugs 22. on the lower end of the rod 15. These springs hold the parts or members l5 and v16 in normal position with a stop pin 23 on the rod 15 engaging the l l cross-piece 18 of the frame member 16. The springs 2Q are sufficientl strong to normally uphold the weighi g platform 4, but

' if a person steps upon the platform, the

` springs are stretched and the members 15 and 16 slide relatively to one another, so

l that the force exerted by a person or other body of considerable weight on the plat- Vfoiini is not properly transmitted to the lweighing beam and the weight cannot be A suitable stop device is em' determined. ployed for limiting this downward movement of the platform and the parts connected'thereto. ln the form shown, the platform is provided with a projecting edge iange 24 which is arranged to engage-a flange or shoulder 25 formed on the base. Witii this arrangement, when a body of any considerable weight is placed on the platform, the latter is depressed and through the medium of the weighing lever and link 17, the rod l5v is pulled down and the springs .20 stretched until the edge of the platform engages the flange or shoulder` on the base-l. While the springs 20 then, of course, exert a pull upon the balancing beam 9, it is not commensurate with .the weight of the body on the platform and the scales cannot he employed to determine the weight. The

relatively movable members 15y and 16 are vprovided with parts or suitable means which can be coin controlled, whereby these members may be engaged to positively conthe 'neet the platform and the balancing beam,

'bars of the frame member 16 ,and is con-l iiectcd at its upper end to these bars by a pivot pin '28., The latch itself comprises side-bars connected at their lower ends by a cross-bar 29, the upper edge of which is preferably beveled, as shown. A trip 30 for the latch is pivotally mounted between its ends on a lug 31 that projects rearwardly from the cross-piece 19 of the frame meme bei' 16. This trip is provided with a slot 32 at its upper'end which is engaged by ay hook 35% that projects from the catch member 27. rllie trip 30 is provided at its lower end with a toe portion 34 which extends between one of the side hars of the frame member 16 and the rod 15. A spring 35, coiled aboutthe pi\ ot of the trip, normally holds it and the latth 27 in the position shownin `Fig. 3, with a stop lug 36 on the trip engaging one of tire side bars 'of the frame member 15. lmu'iediately above the normal position of the projecting toe 34 of the trip 30 and on the sideof the device opposite the trip 30 -ii'id catch 27, the side bars of the member ypoint on theI exterior thereof.

point to receive it. y 16, however, remain interlocked until the moved.

` disengage the hook 26 and bar 29 and the 16 are provided with raised portions 37 and 38 which are provided with vertical 'guide grooves 39 and 40. The part 3S is also provided with a slot 41 opening into the guide I groove 40 thereof. lin the normal position of the parts the slot' 41 is opposite the inner end of a coin chute 42 which is mounted on thestandard 2. and opens at any convenient Aty a 'point adjacent tlie upper end of the slot 41 the rod I15 isy provided with a shoulder ,el-2

Normally the parts are in the position i i shown in Figs. 1 and 3. If a body is placed on the platform 40 without depositing a coin in the chute 42, the weight of the body, if sufficient to overcome the tension of the light springs 20 will merely depress the platform 4 until it engages the stop flange 25 and the force exerted by the weight of the body will not be properly transmitted to the balancing beam 9. If a coin is placed in the chute before the body whose weight is to be determined is placed on theplatformpit passes through the slot 41 of the-part 38 into the position shown in Fig. 5 in the guide grooves 3 9 and 40 'of the parts 37 and,38 of the member 16 and below the shou" lei' 43 o f the member 15. this position by the toe 34 of the trip 30. 1f the body is then placed on the platform, the downward movement of the rod 15 will bring the shoulder 43 thereon in engagement with the upper edge of the coin, and the latter will be pressed against the toe 34 of the trip 30. 1f the body is then placed on the. platform, the` downward movement of the rod 15 will bring the shoulder 43 thereon in engagementwith the upper edge of the coin, and the latter will. be pressed against the toe 34 of the trip 30, so that the trip and the catch 27 are shifted against the tension of the spring 35 to bring the cross-bar I29 of the latch below the hook 26 on the rod 15. The continued downward movement of the rod will engage the hook with the cross-bar, as shown inv Fig. 4, to thereby interlock the The coin is u4 zeld in l relatively sliding members 15 and 16 and hook 26 with the bar 29 of the latch 27.

This4 further movement of the rod 15 also pushes the coin past the toe 34 so'that it is released and falls down inside of the standard 2 into a receptacle placed at any suitable r1`he members 415 and Vhen this occurs. the springs 2O spring 35 then shifts the'latch to its inoperative position shown in Fig. 3. It should be noted that the springs 20, which may properly be termed restoring springs, must be of suliieient strength Vto counterbalance the platform 4 when the latter lis unweighted, otherwise they will not hold the relatively sliding members 15and 16 in proper normal position and will not serve to restore the' same to such position. Obviously, the coperating stops 24 Aand 25, which, in thel preferred form shown, limit the downward movement of the platform when the members l5 and 16 are disconnected, must be so arranged that they will ,not be in engagement when these members are interlocked. I

In the form shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the

Y head 3 at the upper end of the standard 2 is enlarged to forrrra'hollow rectangular easing. A lever -13 corresponding to the lever 13 in the form shown in Fig, l, is arranged within the head or casing 3 and is pivotally The balmounted at one end on a post 44. ancing beam 9 is similar to that previously described. In this form, 'the normally in operative, yielding connection is interposed between the balancing beam 9 and the lever 13 ,and the latter `is directly connected to the weighing levers in the base of the scales byra link 17. The yielding, normallyv inoperative connection comprises two rods or Amembers 45- and 46 connected respectively 4 to the outer end of the lever 13 and tothe or casing lmembers, and `rods 50 extending through perforations in the ends of the cross-pieces 48- and 49- and provided at their upper'and lowerends with adjustable nuts or abutments 51 and 52. Normally, the nuts or abutments 52 are spaced from the under side of the cross-piece 49'on the member A4.5, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

When a weight is placed upon the plati form of the scales, the lever 13 is depressed and pulls down the rod or member 45 and cross-bar 49 thereon. But unless the coin controlling mechanism is actuated, the lever 13 is arrested by a suitable stop device before the cross-bar 49 engages the nuts or abutments 52 on the lower end s of the rods 50. This stop comprises a swinging arm 53 pivotally mounted upon a bracket 54 on the bottom ofthe casing 3 and having apart 55 projecting beneath the end of the lever 13': A 'spring 56 is connected at one end to the stop-member 53 at theopposite end v 'of the casing. This spring normally holds The ends 4of the rods or memthev stop member in the position shown in i Fig. 7 with the latter engaging a lug 57 that projects inwardly fromI the side wall of the casing' 3. As stated, the force exerted by a weight sutlicient to overcome the spring 47 draws the lever 13- down until it engages the stop 53and thereby'stretches the yielding'connection or spring 47 between the lever and the balancing beam, but inasmuchas the lost-motion between the parts 49 and 52 is not taken up, the lever 13 and balancing beam 9 are not properly connected and the weight cannot be determined. Suitable coin controlled mechanisms are provided for shifting the stop 53 to permit the further movement of the lever and the member 45 connected thereto to thereby bring the cross-bar 49 in engagement with they abutments 52 topositively lengage or connect the members 45 and 46 and thereby properly transmit the pull from the lever l3to the balancing beam 9; j

In `the construction shown, the coin controlled mechanism comprises a lever 58 arranged in the casing and pivotally mounted at 59 to the side wall thereof. vA handle 60 on. the outer end of the lever extends through a segmental slot 6l in the front wall of the easing, so that it may be employed by the user to depress the left hand end of the leveran raise the right hand end thereof.

This movement of the lever is normally checked by a dog 62 pivotallyconnected at 63 tothe lever. The lower end of the dog is provided with a shoulder 6-4which, when the left hand' end of the lever is depressed,.is

arranged to engage a stop lug 65 projecting inwardly from the side of the casing. A spring 66 extends between the dog 62 and the lever 58 and holds the dogin normal position against a stop pin 67 on the lever. The lever 58 itself is held in normal position by a spring 68 connected to the lever and to the wall of the easing. This spring normally holds the lever in the position shown in Fig.

2 with the laterally projecting arm or handle 60 thereon at the upper end of the slot 61. A coin chute 69 projects inwardly from the front wall of the casing 3 over the left hand end of the lever. An arm 70 on the4 upper end of the dog 62 extends over the coin chute and above a slotl71 therein. Another arm 72 on the dog normally extends over the open inner end of lthe chute. The movement of the lever 58 is also controlled by a springheld, full stroke dog 73 pivotally mounted on its left hand end and arranged to coperate with the ratchet teeth on a segment 74.

, The free end of the lever is provided with a pivoted dog 75 which is normally held by gravity against the stop pin 76 on the lever. When the lever 58 is shifted, the .dog 75A thereon is arranged to engage a projecting arm 77 on the stop member 53 and shift the latter out of the path of the lever 13.', as

vr12o shown in Fig. 8. The stop member 53 isv heldin shifted position by a latch 78 which is pivotally mounted on an upright 79 vrising laterallyprojecting end portion 82 whichl extends over the end of the lever 13. The spring S0 holds kthe latch in normal position with the part 82 resting'on thedever 13.

lV hen a body of any considerable Weight is placed' on the platform, the lever 13 is depressed until it engages the forwardly projectingpart of the stop member 53. By thus arresting the lever 13, the force eX- erted by the'body on the platform is not properly transmitted to the balancing beam 9 and its weight cannot be determined. If a coin is placed in the chute (39, it will be held in position near the inner open end of the chute by the arm 72 on the locking dog 62. In this position, the arm on the upper end of the locking dog extends over the coin. -The -user of the machine then depresses the operating handle 60 to move the left hand end of the lever 58 downwardly. This brings the arm 'T0 on the upper end of the locking dog against the upper edge of the coin, .so that the upper end of the dog is swung Ito the right and its lower end to the left clear of the stop lug G5. of the lever can thenbe continued until the handle reaches the lower end of the slot 61. During this movement, the dog 75 von the right hand end of the lever 5S engages the arm 77 and swings the step outof the path of movement of thelever or into the position shown in Fig. 8. The latch 78 then engages the stop member 53 and holds it in inoperative position; lhe weight en the platform of the scales then further depresses thelever 13 and rod 4:5 connected thereto until the cross-piece 4:9 engages the nuts or aoutments on the lower ends of the rods 50. The lever 13 and balancing beam 9 are then properly connected so that the weight of the person or body on the scales of the platform. can be properly determined. When ne. weight of the person or body is removed from the platform scales, the parts are returned to normal position. 'lhe spring i7 draws the lever 13 upwardly and moves its free end against the part 8a so that the latch 78 is lifted and the stop member 5:3 is

returned to normal position with the part v55 thereon beneath the. end of lthe lever 13. It should be noted that, at the end of the downward movement of the locking dog 12 (shown in Fig. S), the arm T2 is removed from the inner open cud of the coin slotte), so that the coin drops out of the chute into ay suitable receptacle placed to receive it. The full. stroke dog 73 compels the coniplcl'e shift of the lever 5S i'n one or the other direction. It should also be noted that in IThe shift 1,122,244 f I y l l l each form, a normally yielding connection is interposed between the platform and the weighing` beam, so lthat these parts are not `that the yielding device or spring, which serves to restore the connections between the platform and the balancing beam to normal inoperative condition, is not interposed between such connections in a fixed point on the frame, but is interposed in the connections themselves and is freely and bodily, movable therewith, so that it does not interfere withthe proper counterbalancing of a weight placed on the platform after the co`nneetions have been rendered inoperative. Furthermore, no other spring is interposed. between the moving parts of the frame or .easing which would tend to restrict the movement of the parts and the proper` operation thereof and the amount of weight placed on the platform is determined by a cmmterl'ialancing beam and not by the variable stretching or compressing of a spring.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in 'the details set forth without departure frmnthe essentials of the invention as defined in claims.

I claim as myinventionz- 1. In a. scale, a' normally inoperative weighing mechanism comprising a platforni, a counter-balancing weighing beam therefor, coin controlledmeans for eotrolling the positive connection of Said platform to said beam to thereby render the weigh ing mechanism operative, and a yielding device connected tov said platform and to said beam for restoring the .weighing mechanism to normal inope 'ative condition.

2. In a weighing scale, the combination of a platform, a counterbalancing beam therefor, Connections between said beam and said, platform, a spring interposed in said connections and freely and bodily movable therewith, said connections having parts adapted to be engaged to positively connect vsaid platform and said beam independently of said spring, and coin-actuated means controlling the operative engagement of saidy parts.

3. In a weighing scale, the combination of a platform, a counterbalancing beam there for, two relatively movable members connected respectively to said beam and to saidplatform, said members having 'parts adapted to be engaged to positively connectvl said beam and saidplatform,coin-controlled means normally preventing the operative engagement of saidrparts, said meansbeingoperable through the medium of a coin to permit the engagement of said parts, and a yielding connection between said members and freely and bodily movable therewith forrestoring the same to normal, inoperative condition. A

4. In a weighingyscale, the combination with a frame, of a platform, weighing levers whereon said platform is mounted, a pivoted beam for counterbalancing a weight on said platform, normally inoperative, lost motion connections between said levers and said beam having-parts adapted to be engaged to render said connections operative, coin-controlleo means for controlling the engagements of said parts and a spring interposed in said connections and freely and bodily movable therewith for restoring the same t0 normal, inoperative condition. y

5. In a weighing scale, the combination with a frame, of a platform, weighing levers whereon said platform is mounted, a balancing beam, two relatively movable members connected respectively to said beam and to said weighing levers, coin-eontrolled means for controlling the operative engagement of said members, and a yielding device connected to both of said members for disengaging the same. l

6. In a weighing scale, the combination of a platform, a pivoted counterbalancing beam therefor, normally inoperative, lost motion connections between said beam and said platform, said connections having parts adapted to be engaged to positively connect said-platform to said beam, coin-actuated mechanism contrellingthe engagement of said parts, and a yielding device interposed in said connections and freely and bodily movable therewith for disengaging said parts.

7. In a weighing scale, the combination 'with a platform, a counter-balancing weighing beam therefor, normally inoperative lost.

motion connections between said platform and said beam, said connections having parts adapted to be engaged to positively connect said platform andsaid beam, a stop device normally preventing the engagement of said parts, coin-controlled means for releasing said stop device, and means for counterbalancing the unweighted platform and for restoring said connections to normal, inoperative condition.

8. In a weighing scale, the combination with a platform, of a counterbalancing weighing beam therefor, normally inoperative connections between said beam and said platform including a yielding device connected both to said platform and said beam and freely and bodily movable with said connections, said connections, having partsV adapted to be engaged to positively connect said platform and said beam independently of said yielding device, a stop noi'mally preventing the engagement 0f said parts, and coin-controlled `means for releasing said stop.

l9. In a weighing scale, the .combination with a platform, of a counterbalancing weighing beam, coperating movable parts connected respectively to said platform and to said beam, a yielding lspring connecting said parts and freely and bodily movable therewith, a stop device for preventing the operative movement of said parts,and coincontrolled mechanism for releasing said stop device, said spring being arranged to restore said parts to normal condition,

` 10. In a weighing scale, the combination with a platform, of a counterbalancing weighing beam therefor, cooperating4 members connected respectively to said beam and to said platform and having a lost Vmotion engagement, a stop device normally preventing the operative engagement of said connecting members, coin-controlled means for releasing said stop device, and means for` oonnterbalancing the nnweighted platform and for restoring said connections and said stop device to normal position.

l1. In a weighing scale, the combination with a platform, a counter-balancing weighing beam therefor, coperating members connected respectively to said beam and to lsaid platform and having a lost motion connection, a' stop device normally preventing the operative movement of said connecting members, coin-controlled means for releasing said stop device, a latch for holding said stop device in released position, a spring interposed between said members and freely and bodily movable therewith, said spring being arranged to restre said connections to normal position to release said latch.

HARRY IV. BARSON.

Witnesses:

ELEAN 0R HAGEMOW, J. G. ANDERSON. 

